Calabash Tree
Crescentia cujete
Kalebassenbaum
Classification: Bignoniaceae
Origin: tropical South America
Growing height: up to 13 m
Uses: fruit (drinking vessel, food bowls, musical instruments)
The Calabash Tree has a short trunk and grey-brownish, cracked bark. The crown is wide open with only few long branches. The leaves are characteristic and form tufts on short shoots.
The big bell-shaped flowers grow directly from the trunk or strong branches. The flowers only open in darkness and flower only for a single night. The large fruits can be up to 50 cm long and are used for different richly ornamented objects from vessels to musical instruments.
